Rising country stars shine Friday at Traditions

Traditions at the Glen will welcome a talented rising star to its stage on Friday in the second installment of the new concert series Country Jammin’ Nights.

A perennial CMA Fest performer, singer/songwriter Maggie Rose made it to Nashville by age 19 and has earned rave reviews with her 2013 LP, “Cut to Impress.”

From Potomac, Maryland — hardly a mecca for country music — to Nashville by way of storied record executive Tommy Mottola (Celine Dion, Mariah Carey), Rose stepped away from Clemson University and a Bruce Springsteen cover band to start her country music career.

Influenced by artists her mom listened to when she was a child — like Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman and Dixie Chicks — Rose preferred country songs because of the stories they told. It wasn’t long before she was writing most of her own songs.

Learn more about her at www.iammaggierose.com

Opening for Rose will be Kendal Conrad, who appeared on MTV in June and recently sang a duet onstage with Keith Urban. She is featured on Keith Urban’s website as one of his favorite “Raise ‘Em Up” Tour moments. She is International Miss Talent and won the title with her original song “Girlstrong.” She has performed at the White House, Wells Fargo Center, Sands Casino, Six Flags, Hersheypark, the Bitter End, and Musikfest, as well as the Susquehanna Bank Center for 92.5 XTU’s anniversary party.

Conrad has sung the National Anthem for MLB, NBA, MMA, NASCAR, and NBC’s National Dog Show and has opened for country artists Phil Vassar and Craig Morgan and performed for author Nicholas Sparks.

Check her out at www.youtube.com/kendalconrad.

“We could have planned a large concert event or festival, but we chose to launch a series of shows, one each month from June through September, so that Country Jammin’ becomes a new experience that live music seekers can look forward to on a regular basis,” said Matt Walsh of Traditions. “This is also a chance for us to showcase some great regional talent in the opening acts to each show.”

What’s unique and generating a lot of buzz is the new venue designed for these performances, he said.

“An elevated sound stage set on a stone patio faces out over a natural amphitheater; we’ve laid out the perfect, intimate venue for outdoor entertainment with views of the Glen and valley and close proximity to the artists.”

The group of headliners booked for this inaugural season is a mix of rising stars each with their own sound and back story. In the next two installments, Dylan Scott with opening act Kolby Oakley will perform on Aug. 14, and iHeartRadio’s Rising Star finalist Chris Lane performs with The Woodshed Prophets on Sept. 4.

Gates to Country Jammin’ Night open at 6 p.m., with Conrad performing at 7 p.m. Advance tickets to all shows are on sale for $10 each at www.showclix.com/events/21051.